Autopsy set in NMU pool death

December 3, 2012

MARQUETTE - A Northern Michigan University freshman women's soccer player who drowned in the Physical Education Instructional Facility pool Friday evening was alone at the time of the incident, according to investigators.

NMU Public Safety Director Michael Bath said this morning the soccer team had been working out in the pool area prior to Arianna Alioto's drowning.

Bath said police are still investigating where the lifeguard on duty was at the time of the drowning.

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"(Alioto) was the only one in the pool. The team had all left, including the lifeguard," Bath said. "We're not sure why (the lifeguard) wasn't there."

Bath said a student working out in an exercise area of the PEIF saw Alioto, 18, in the water at about 5:35 p.m. through windows that overlook the pool area. The student told PEIF staff there was a female in the water. Staff entered the pool and found Alioto unresponsive in the water.

Alioto was pulled from the pool and staff began to administer CPR while 911 was contacted. EMS arrived on the scene and took over CPR. Alioto was then transported to Marquette General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

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ALIOTO

Bath said an autopsy will be performed, but had not been scheduled by press time this morning.

Alioto, who was from Columbia, Mo., was recovering from a right ACL injury and was red-shirting her freshman year.